It is questionable whether or not retrial after a hung jury is Constitutional. Nonetheless, in the United States today, it is generally permitted. If a mistrial occurs due to a hung jury, the prosecutor may decide to retry the case.
History: Federal Penitentiary. The army transferred Alcatraz to the civilian Bureau of Prisons (BOP) in 1934. The BOP quickly converted the aging military prison in to a maximum-security, state-of-the-art civilian penitentiary. Alcatraz would shortly become the most famous federal prison in United States history. Alcatraz was designed to serve as Americaâs first maximum-security, minimum-privilege penitentiary, what is today referred to as a âsuper maxâ institution. From 1934 to 1963, Alcatraz housed some of Americaâs most notorious offenders, escape artists, gang leaders and general trouble makers.
For the 1962 film, see Birdman of Alcatraz (film). Robert Franklin Stroud (January 28, 1890 â November 21, 1963), known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, was an American federal prisoner and author who has been cited as one of the United States' most notorious criminals.